Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-10-21
OLYMPIA. WASHINGTON ter.
OLYMPIA, FRIDAY EVENING OCT. q, 1857.
The True Spirit of National Unity.

The True Spirit of National Unity.
EMPHASIZED BY A TRAGIC EVENT.
A tragic incident occurred at Men,
phis, Tenn, during the Presidents
visit to that city, last Saturday. 1t
seems that Judge Elicit, who made
the address Of welcome, stood with his
head uncovered while the President
was speaking. He was soon overcome
by heat and excitement of the occa-
sion, and fell into a chair. He was
removed from the grounds and soon
expired, but this fact was kept from
the Presidential party. to nvert tho
gloom that would have resulted from
q true statement of the sad occurrence.
The last words of Judge Elicit,
breathing as they do the spirit that has
animated the Southern people in such
a remarkable degree, since the war,
the universal feeling of resignation
and answering determination to &C
cept the results and rebuild their shat
tered homes upon a broader and more
harmonious conception of the duties
OF American citizenship, are so elo-
quent and obtain such deep signifi-
cation under the peculiar conditions of
their utterance, that they will bear re-
petition wherever the true spirit of
national unity finds lodgment in the
heart.
He said: "You have recently par
ticipated in a celebration of the one
hrndredth anniversary Of the forma-
ton of the Constitution of the United
States, and you have beheld hundreds
of our fellow-countrymen focking from
every direction to the spot where that
instrument was fashioned, and renew
ing their VOWS of fealty at the shrine
OF that grandest monument of human
wisdom. Let me say, sir, that the
Southern heart was in full sympathy
with that interesting occasion, and
that nowhere in all this broad land
will you find more real fealty to the
Constitution of the United States,
and to the Government created by it,
than among the people of the South
ern States. The differences of opinion
as to its true theory and proper con-
struction in some points existed from
its very creation, and the controversy
has often been an angry and bitter
one. The great and important interest
in the progress of things became Sec
tional, and out Of it arose q question
of constitutional interpretion which
was regarded by the Southern people
a. serious to their rights and interests.
They committed their solution to the
arbitration of war, but, MIR. President
they have bowed to the stern logic of
events until they have, in frank and
manly way, accepted the result of the
struggle as q final settlement of all
questions in dispute, and they have
since labored with rare courage, forti-
tude and cheerfulness to accommodate
themselves to their new conditions, to
reconstruct their broken fortunes and
70 contribute Is far as possible to the
general prosperity and happiness of
the whole country.
Gas one practical result accomplished
by the conflict, the theory Of the rights
Of . State to withdraw from the Fed
eral compact was overthrown and
the indestructibility of the American
Union was established on the firmest
foundation. The chief element of dis
cord has been removed forever and
though questions will continue to arise
about which men may differ and differ
earnestly, it is settled beyond appeal
that for all abuses and grievances that
may arise from the action of the Cen
eral Government, the remedy must
hereafter be sought within the pale of
the Union, and under the forms of the
established institutions"
The President, in his response, said !:
1.-THE patriotic sentiment expressed on
your behalf by your honored fellow
citizen in his address of welcome, am
sure I may say will be generously re-
sponded to by your countrymen Of the
North. They want, believe, a rest
from sectional bitterness and they
know that the destiny of the country
is only secured by q true union in
sentiment of feeling as we'll as in
name. The business interests of our
people are too alert and intelligent to
be sacrificed or injured by selfish ap-
peals to passion, which should be al
layed. They only insist that all the
results of the arbitrament of arms, to
which reference has been made, shall
be fully retained and enforced"
GEN. A. P. Curry, Department Com
mander of the G. A. R., has returned
to Spokane from the st. Louis En-
campment. He says the Washington
Territory exhibit in that city attracted